DEF CON
From Free net encyclopedia
- For the term DEFCON as used in the military sense, see Defense Condition. For the computer game, see Defcon (computer game)
DEF CON is the world's largest annual hacker convention, held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first DEF CON took place in June 1993. DEF CON is renowned for the "arcane arts" of drinking, socializing, debugging, and crowd control. The Def Con Goons organize, maintain control, and run the show.
Many of the attendees at DEF CONs include computer security professionals, "crackers", and hackers with a general interest in computer code and computer architecture. The event consists of several tracks of speakers about computer and hacking related subjects, as well as social events and contests in everything from creating the longest Wi-Fi connection and cracking computer systems to most effectively cooling a beer in the Nevada heat. The convention was held at the Alexis Park from 1999-2005; the 2006 convention will take place at the Riviera hotel and casino.
DEF CON has been the host of many interesting events since its beginning, but the most infamous is perhaps the arrest of Russian programmer Dmitry Sklyarov on July 16, 2001 for having shown how to decrypt Adobe's eBook format.
See also
- Hackers on Planet Earth a.k.a. H.O.P.E. — the conferences held by 2600 The Hacker Quarterly.
- Summercon, run by The Legion of Doom
- Chaos Communication Congress — oldest and Europe's biggest hacker conferences held by Chaos Computer Club.
- HoHoCon — first modern hacker convention held by CULT OF THE DEAD COW.
- Black Hat Briefings the largest 'official' computer security event in the world.
- MyDEFCON gathering point spawned from the annual DEFCON security conference.
External links
- DEF CON official website
- defconpics: a repository of photographs from past DEF CONs, from the first to present
- The Alexis Park Resort & Hotel
- Flickr: Photos tagged with defcon, photos likely of DEF CONde:DEF CON